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For Today...
'Like a candle flame'
Another song from Graham Kendrick's 'The Gift'. Ideally, with a massive crescendo in the final verse on 'from our lives, Spirit blazing'.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZGVQKjn_V8 - a version uploaded by Matt Beckingham - a touch different, and nicely done.(17/01/2025)
Recent links
'Father, never was love so near (Thanks be to God)'
Another song from Graham Kendrick's 'The Gift'...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2kMH7NuIOE - Graham Kendrick album recording.(16/01/2025)
'Infant Holy, infant lowly'
A Polish traditional carol with a lovely tune, of which there are a number of very good arrangements. I know the Willcocks one best.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6dcIRAr-gE - The Merbecke Choir singing the Willcocks arrangement.(15/01/2025)
'In the bleak mid-winter'
Christina Georgina Rossetti's much-loved poem, set to music...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTzqMi2AQF8 - a setting of the Holst tune, from King's College Cambridge (King's Singers, plus choir).www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qmtO6cebcU - James Taylor interprets the Holst tune, and also takes a few liberties with Rossetti's words...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb9tHjuy9Hw - the Darke tune, which has its own virtues, and which some prefer. (From Trinity College, Cambridge - beautifully done.)
(14/01/2025)
'The first nowell'
Old English carol which covers full narrative through to Epiphany.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbbagyVukSE - the choir of Kings College Cambridge, with the Willcocks arrangement.(13/01/2025)
'Joy to the world'
An old hymn (by Isaac Watts), popular at Christmas, and only relatively recently wedded to the tune we all know and love.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBatNMaD85M - choir and orchestra, with a bit of colour in the arrangement. A three verse version, omitting the one with curses, as do we.(12/01/2025)
'Father, Lord of Earth and Heaven'
Yet another use for 'Stuttgart':- this one is a useful song when the theme is the Baptism of Jesus.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I2OemBmZq0 - a 4 line, 4 verse version.(11/01/2025)
'Good Christian men, rejoice'
Medieval German carol you can't leave out. There are various English translations/variations, and it's common to change the first line to 'Good Christians, all rejoice'
vimeo.com/192186352 - lovely arrangement with a twist at the end, from a Dominican House in the USA, which is fitting, as it's believed the song originated with a Domincian Friar.(10/01/2025)
'Tonight, while all the world was sleeping'
This was the customary Christmas Eve carol service opening for us in the 1990s. It's great fun to play with a good band. And there's definitely a job for an organ in the chorus.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd7_kGGdAwc - from Graham Kendrick Music.(09/01/2025)
'Christians Awake, salute the happy morn!'
A solid church hymn for Christmas Day.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz_YyrFqjcQ - recorded at the Metropolitan Tabernacle.(08/01/2025)
'Brightest and best of the sons of the morning'
An Epiphany hymn, and curiously enough that's the name of the tune too. The language is increasingly archaic, but the tune is bright and moves along nicely.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHLL6gPTreE - a live recording of the Cardiff Tabernacle congregation.(07/01/2025)
'As with gladness, men of old'
An Epiphany standard.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp52sx2_GYs - a Songs of Praise recording.(06/01/2025)
'While shepherds watched their flocks by night'
A Christmas hymn with many possible tunes - and there's no reason to use the same tune for all six verses. But in church, we usually use Winchester Old, briskly.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgYzJDxxzN8 - Kings, Cambridge: a five verse version with a fine descant on the last verse.(05/01/2025)
'Lullay lulla, thou little tiny Child (Coventry carol)'
Very old English carol, most suitable around Holy Innocents Day.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lpiQ4IPzEE - with the traditional melody.(04/01/2025)
'All Poor Men and Humble'
A favourite of mine, rarely used with a congregation though. A Welsh carol, used in translation.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZLfzkXW0GM - album recording, without haste.(03/01/2025)
'Lord, for the years'
A Timothy Dudley-Smith hymn (with tune by Michael Baughen), very much a 'standard' for looking back / looking forward occasions.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNCuPjAZHZM - a BBC (Radio 2) recording, with all 5 verses. Christ's Hospital choir, accompanied on the organ.(02/01/2025)
'God is working his purpose out'
One of those irregular traditional hymns which is prone to minor edits, so if you're leading on the organ or other keyboard in the traditional way, you really have to keep your eye on the words!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8EcuV1SOFU - a recording by Truro Cathedral choir.(01/01/2025)
'Hark the Herald Angels Sing'
No Christmas is complete without the Willcocks arrangement of this.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_iLXNSIaYc - the choir of King's College Cambridge.(31/12/2024)
'O come, all ye faithful'
A good one to have on Christmas Day, just so you can play the last verse of the Willcocks arrangement!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KObcwbvV9XU - verses 1,2,6 & 7 - a big sound, choir, organ and orchestra, with the kind of long introduction that one associates with big American churches.(30/12/2024)
'On Christmas night all Christians sing'
Also known as the Sussex carol. A good one for Christmas Eve.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-TZ76wONPs - It's very popular with the annual Carols from Kings... so here's a Songs of Praise recording with an interesting arrangement.(29/12/2024)
'Unto us a boy is born'
One that can get squeezed out by all the others you want to include... but it's the ideal carol for Holy Innocents Day.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7wkgI1OY-o - album recording - choir and organ, nicely done.(28/12/2024)
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